Covid-19 Pandemic and Many New Hobbies: Cycling

The world in the first half of 2020 was shocked by a new pandemic namely Covid-19. Covid-19 is a type of coronavirus, found originating from the first case that appeared in Wuhan, China around December 2019. Corona virus itself is a group of viruses that can be a cause of disease in humans or animals. It infects the respiratory organs starting from a cold cough then heavier refers to MERS or SARS which some time ago also had an epidemic in several countries in the world (https://www.who.int/indonesia/news/novel-coronavirus / qa-for-public, accessed June 25, 2020, 10.35 Wita). This pandemic teaches many people the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and health. Initially there were still many who were ignorant with the need to wash their hands, wear masks when traveling, take a bath and change clothes as soon as they arrived at home, now such a thing has become a must-do habit. This might be one of the positive effects of a pandemic whose spread is quite capable of spreading fear, suspicion, prejudice, and the collapse of important sectors in modern human life.

Apart from the negative effects caused, Covid-19 opens the door to sustenance for most creative humans. For example, it is very easy to find tourism workers such as drivers or hoteliers who work hard selling food online. A skill that might have been rather neglected suddenly appeared. One blessing (or disaster) that still must be grateful. Of course this opens new business opportunities that come from the home industry. In addition to selling food / snacks that there are always buyers, one of the business sectors that reaps profits is bicycle traders. Used or recently sought after by enthusiasts. Fixies, Mountain Bikes, Road, Hybrids, BMX, Bikesto folding bikes, suddenly many "experts" are fluent in talking about types of bikes (an irony because on the other hand many complain that they no longer have a source of income, screaming for help with basic needs, blaspheming the government which is considered slow, and so on, phenomena in the “+62 country”, people said). Apart from that, now we meet plural cyclists milling about on the highway. Young and old and children mingle even though the appeal for not traveling and in groups has not even been revoked by the government. Can’t be blamed because who likes to stay at home "forced" work from home or study from home continuously without certainty when this will all end.

Back again to the rise of cyclists in recent times, I can't help but be affected too. Supported by the environment that is also keen on cycling. Mileage is not the most important benchmark. It is to bike first, then to follow the instinct where the hand directs the handlebar and foot pedal the bicycle. Living in an area that is very dependent on tourism made me realize one thing from Covid-19, the area where I live is like a dead city. The shops were closed, the hotels were paralyzed, there were almost no tourists passing by, free of congestion of motorized vehicles, and there seemed to be no "life". Seminyak, Legian, Kuta almost lost their heartbeat. Weakened, gasped, but still trying to stand up with the remnants of the resources he had. If there are things to be thankful for, the air is much cleaner and the sky looks more blue.

I was only able to observe this more clearly by cycling. Look around at a glance from the perspective of eight elements of urban design (Shirvani, 1985), namely land use, shape and mass of buildings, circulation and parking, open space, pedestrian areas, signage, supporting activities, and conservation. Although it is not detailed, what I have caught is that there are too many changes and the allocation of areas that are not appropriate. Too chaotic, crowded and tight. Tourism and meeting the needs of the economy completely changes everything. I saw it in the eyes of an architect who explores the city on a bicycle in memory of childhood and was shocked by the rapid changes. Covid-19 on the other hand opened my eyes, heart and ears through bicycling. Reminding the importance of maintaining health, seeing the nearest environment, paying attention to nutrition and diet, as well as sports that I have long forgotten. Honestly, three months of staying at home feels like a lot of people have the same problem as me, gaining weight. Bicycling is my hope of keeping my weight back to normal. Not just for lifestyle or jump on the bandwagon, hopefully so do the other cyclists out there. A healthy lifestyle through the sport of cycling that has been chosen is hopefully sustainable after the pandemic has passed to meet the era of  New Normal.